Massachusetts Government Act

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The Massachusetts Government Act (citation 14 Geo. III c. 45) was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain and became a law on May 20, 1774. The Act is one of the Intolerable Acts or the Repressive Acts, or the Coercive Acts, designed to suppress the rebellion in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament launched a legislative offensive against Massachusetts to control its errant behavior. British officials realized part of their inability to control the colony was rooted in the highly independent nature of local government there.

The Massachusetts Government Act abrogated the colony’s charter and provided for a greater amount of royal control. Massachusetts had been unique among the colonies in its ability to elect members of its executive council. This Act took away that right: "should henceforth be put upon the like footing as is established in such other of his Majesty's colonies or plantations"^[1] and made the executive council appointed. The rights of the elected assembly were not abridged. The King was given sole power to appoint and dismiss the council, the attorney general, all judges, justices of the peace, and sheriffs. Town meetings were limited to one meeting a year. Additional meetings required the governors permission.